Lame. I got Russian currency through a pen-pal relationship when I was a little girl. My mom stressed the importance of keeping that a decent secret, as Russia hadn't been allowing the foreign distribution of their currency for some time. I think this was early 90s but I'm not sure, so probably after the wall fell, but I still remember my mom being concerned. We actually have a rather decent collection of foreign currency now, mostly coins, including some from East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the USSR.

Some have suggested that the decree is to limit what is known in France as "the anonymous market", the market in which no taxes are paid and people are free to trade without the supervision of banks and government.

So, bartering is now a criminal activity? That's how the freaking world was built!!!

France has long had some weird restrictions on using cash, for eg. a French citizen cannot make a large retail purchase (i think the number is 5k euro) in cash, but a foreigner can. The issue there is dodging the 19% VAT.

badhatharry:minoridiot: badhatharry: Even the NSA is not allowed to open your mail.

Not necessarily true. Every bit of international mail into the US is reviewed, and yes, some of it is opened.

I knew that they x-rayed and inspected it but I thought opening it was a very big deal.

This started in 2002 after the passage of the Trade Act of 2002.

(1) In general.--For purposes of ensuring compliance with the Customs laws of the United States and other laws enforced by the Customs Service, including the provisions of law described in paragraph (2), a Customs officer may, subject to the provisions of this section, stop and search at the border, without a search warrant, mail of domestic origin transmitted for export by the United States Postal Service and foreign mail transiting the United States that is being imported or exported by the United States Postal Service.

The idea of laissez-faire capitalist, anti-government Teabaggers creating their own little markets for 3D printed guns and homemade Utilikilts and paying each other in gold nuggets is funny enough... the fact that they're using the USPS to mail their gold back and forth takes the cake.

ltdanman44:Some have suggested that the decree is to limit what is known in France as "the anonymous market", the market in which no taxes are paid and people are free to trade without the supervision of banks and government.

So, bartering is now a criminal activity? That's how the freaking world was built!!!

[b-i.forbesimg.com image 297x166]

How does your comment and picture have anything to do with mailing cash through the mail, and the recipient not declaring it as income?

Back during the Dad Old Days of Communism, my parents regularly mailed U.S. dollarsto relatives in Poland, where they'd use the money to pay bribes to government officialsand get themselves moved up the ladder to get refrigerators and better apartments, thatwould have taken months or years to get otherwise.

My Grandmother used to send me a $5 bill in the mail for my birthday. She did it for all 22 or her grandkids each year. If she were alive today in France, would she be a criminal? "Your honor, the defended sent currency through the mail, not once, but over 20 times each year, for decades!"

And this is all because the French government realizes that cash transactions don't have a paper trail. What's next? Vide-greniers? Petit gâteau des éclaireuse?

ReverendR:Is this showing up any place that _isn't_ trying to sell you gold? 'cause I can't find it. The USPS website just says that if you want to send someone gold you need a permit from the Bank of France.

ReverendR:Is this showing up any place that _isn't_ trying to sell you gold? 'cause I can't find it. The USPS website just says that if you want to send someone gold you need a permit from the Bank of France.